Improvement in railroad sleeping-cars



' LUCE & MORRISON.

Car Seat and Couch.

No. 22,506. Patented Jan 4, 1859.

v AM.PHOTOLITHO.CO.N.Y- OSBDRHL'S PROCESS.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEO. LUOE AND JNO. H. MORRISON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAILROAD SLEEPING-CARS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 22,506, dated January4, 1859.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THEODORE LUGE and JOHN H. MORRISON, of Detroit, inthe county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new andImproved Railroad Sleeping- Gar; and we do hereby that the following isa full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had tothe annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which-Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section of our invention, taken in theline a :10, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a view of a portion of a longitudinalsection of the same, taken in the line y y, Fig. l.

. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts inthe twofigures.

This invention consists in attaching a series of folding berth-bottomsto each side of longitudinal central partition placed within the car,and using in connection with said partition and berth-bottoms a doublerow of single seats at each side of the car, the parts being arranged ashereinafter fully shown and described, whereby in the same car seats areobtained during the day and berths for repose at night and a passagewayallowed through the car at each side of the partition both during thenight and day, or when either the seats or berths are used.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct ourinvention, we will proceed to describe it.

A represents a car-body, and B is a partition which extends from thebottom to the top of the car, and longitudinally through its center.This partition is formed by placing upright studs (0 a suitable distanceapart equal to the length-of the berths, and having horizontal bars 11secured between the studs at suitable distances apart, the spacesbetween the bars I) being covered with wire-cloth c.

To each side of the partition B (to the studs a) berth-bottoms O areattached by hinges or joints (1. Three rows of berth-bottoms arerepresented as being attached to each side of the partition B, which isabout as many as can be conveniently employed. The berth-bottoms arerectangular wooden frames 01, made of thin stuff, and having a bottommade of webbing e, which is interlaced or woven within the frame, asshown clearly in Fig. 2, the longitudinal parts of the webbing beingattached to spiral springs j, which are socured to end pieces, g, of theframes d, the transverse pieces of the webbing being attached directlyto the side pieces, 7t, ot' the frames (1.

Each berth-bottom is provided with a head and foot piece, 1', which maybe formed of pieces of board, having wire-cloth j at their upper ends.The lower ends of the head and foot pieces are connected by hinges orjoints to the ends of the frames d, so that they may be folded down orup. Each frame d is provided with a curtain, k, at its outer edge.

The berth-bottoms, when not in use, are folded up against the partitionB, and are secured thereto by clasps l, the head and foot pieces beingfolded down or against the frames d. When the berth-bottoms are to beused they are turned down to a horizontal position and sustained by pinson in uprights D, which extend from the bottom to the top of the car, asshown in Fig. 1, an upright, m, being opposite each stud a in thepartition B.

E E E E represent four rows of seats, two rows being at each side of thecar, with a passage-way, n, between. (See Fig. 1.) The innermost rows ofseats E are in a line between the uprights D and the partition 13, andare therefore underneath the lower row or tier of berths when the latterare turned down in a horizontal position. (See Fig. 1.) Theinnermostrows of seats, therefore, are provided with adjustable backs 0, (seeFig. 2,) so that the backs may be lowered out of the way of the lowerberths when the latter are turned down for use. The backs 0 may bearranged in any proper way to effect this object. In the drawings thebacks are represented as being pivoted between the outer ends of arms 11p, which are pivoted one at each side of each seat.

During the day, when the berths are not required, they are folded upagainst the partition 13, and the backs 0 of the innermost rows of seatsare properly adjusted on the seats for use.

The car, it will be seen, will accommodate the usual number ofpassengers.

At night the backs 0 of the innermost rows of seats are depressed orturned down, the berth-bottoms O are unfolded, and the curtains 70adjusted, forming three rows or tiers of berths.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire tosecure by Letbeing provided with falling backs, and the tcrs Patent, iswhole arranged substantially as and for the The folding berth-bottoms 0,attached to purpose set forth. each side of a central partition, B,within the THEODORE LUOE. body of the car, in connection with the doubleJOHN H. MORRISON. '1 row of single seats E E at each side of the car,Witnesses: with a passage way, at, between them, the J. S. OONKLIN,innermost row of seats at each side of the car E. S. OONKLIN.

